The New York City Council has proposed a bill to label food and drinks that are high in sugar at chain restaurants, reports Crain's New York Business. The legislation would require restaurants with seating areas to post a sign on the risks of sugar and carbohydrates for people with diabetes and prediabetes; make nutritional beverages the default drink options for kids' meals at chain restaurants; and add an icon on chains' menus to flag items with more than 12 grams of added sugar.
Public health organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and New York Academy of Medicine voiced support for the kids' menu changes. Kim Kessler, an assistant commissioner at the city Health Department, supported the bill to make more healthful drinks the default option for meals aimed at children, but was concerned about a proposal to require signage about the risks of sugary food for people with diabetes because, she said, "there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation." She also added displaying the sugar icons could present problems because the federal government requires disclosure of total sugar, not added sugar, on menu items.
Andrew Rigie, executive director for the NYC Hospitality Alliance, a trade group for restaurants, said the bills would be punitive to eateries and stifle their creativity in crafting menus. Full Story
Related: NY Distillery Under Scrutiny from City Agencies; NYC Councilman Introduces Reusable Mug Bill.
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